Direct-return trap



Aug. 16, 1927. 1,638,900

. E. C. WILEY DIRECT RETURN TRAP WITNESSES 6 ATTORNEY' E.' C. WILEY Aug. 1,6, 1927'.` 1,638,900

DIRECT RETURN TRAP Filed Aug. 2l 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES Aug. 16,1927. 1,638,900

, E. C. WILEY DIRECT RETURN TRAP Filed Aug. 2`1. 1925 s sheets-sneer 5 WITNEssEs `ATTORNEY l tially at atmospheric pressure, while backl Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED ,STATESl PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR Cl WILEY, 0F LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA,1 ASSIGNOR T0 SIMPLEX HEATING SPE- CIALTY COMPANY INC., 0F LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

Yinlener-mir'UisrN TRAP.

Abpuauon mea August 21 i925.. semi No. 51,709.

This invention relates to a direct return trap adapted to be used in steam or vapor heating systems for facilitating the return of the water of condensation to the boiler.

According to the preferred method of installing steam or vapor heating systems, a return pipe line is provided for the water of condensation, and is maintained substanpressure from the boiler to the return pipe line is prevented by means of check valves. A trap having an exhaust port normally open receives it ows back toward the boiler'. Whenever the water within the trap reaches a prede# termined level communication is temporarily established between the trap andthesteam pressure line, while the exhaust portv is closed, and the contents of the tra-p flow back into the boiler.

`The general object of the present invention is to provide improved mechanism for controlling the operation of the trap, which' is simple in its construction and easily`ac i oessible, and in which, at the proper time, is quickly and the shifting of the valves positively effected. Y

The invention compr1ses an improved arrangement of the valves and valve housings,

improved means for actuatingthe valves,Y

and improvements in the construction of the' Vfloat and the means for connecting it to the actuating mechanism for controlling'the latter. l 1

The detailed construction of the inven-` tion and its advantages will be more specifically explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment thereof. 1

In the drawings:

Figure 1 1sI a central vertical section through the trap .and the mechanism asso-v.`

ciated therewith; l

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken at right angles to theV plane of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical section on a plane parallel to that of Figure 1, but looking in the opposite direction.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken ony the line 5- 5 of Figure 1.`

Figure 6 is a detail view in elevation of the weight constituting a part of the valve controlling mechanism. j

the water of condensation asv a is installed `to the Vreturn pipe line which leads from theiradiators back to the boiler. The re- `ceiver 1() has a dome 13 secured to its upper end, preferably by a flange coupling 14. The dome is formed at its top with an opening surrounded by an annular seat 15, on which a valve cagey 16 is secured by suitable bolts 17 orvthe like.

The 4valve cage 16 is formed with twochambers 18 and 19 in which are mounted the steam and exhaust valves 2() and 2l, re-

spectively. These valves are mounted forl verticalreciprocation, and each has a downwardly projecting stem 22 guided in an opening in a flange 23, projecting inwardly from the wall of the valve cage at the lower end thereof. Each valve has also an upwardly projecting stem 24 guided in a bore 25, formed in a removable plug 26, which closes the upper end of the valve chamber, and provides easy access to the valve and to the interior of the chamber. The valve chamber 18 has a laterally projecting nipple 27, which is adapted to be connected by a suitable union 28 to thepipe which leads from the steam main, Vand the valve 20, when opened, `.is adapted to admit pressure to the interior ofthe trap. The valve 21. controls communication between the trap andan exhaust chamber 29, which is substantially at atmospheric pressure, and is provided with a laterally extending nipple 30, which may be connected by a suitable union 31 to a pipe leading to the return pipe line.

Located within the receiver 10 is a float 32, preferably oblong ini shape, and having an internally threaded sleeve 33 formed at each end. The flower sleeve'33 has a guide pin 34 secured thereto, which has a head 35 f in the form of a cross, so that it may be guided Within the collar 11 without offering any material obstruction to the flow of the water therethrough.A The sleeve 83 at the upper end of ythe float has a` curved arm 36 secured thereto, the upper end of the arm being pivoted to a pin 37, which is secured to the weight 33 mounted within the 'dome 13. AThe weight 38 is 'substantially `in the forni oi" a sector, and is integrally, or otherwise, secured to a sleeve 39 having plugs 40 in its ends, which are .rotatably .supported by means of a spindle 41 mounted in ears 42 termed `on 'the dome 13, and depending within the upper end =ot the receiver. The

weight 3S has apair 4ot' pins 43 and `44 secured therein, and ,.adaptecl, as the weight swings back and forth, to engage opposite .faces 'of a tap'pet arni which extends downwardly 'between them. The arm 45 .is

supportedon a pivot stud 46 secured in Ian arm 47, which .is y*formed o-u 'the valve cage, 'and projects downwardly within the dome. Luge '43, for-med yon the endet' Vthe arm 47, .limit 'the inoveirient ot' the tappet zarm 45 about the stud 46 in either direction. Lugs 49 project :in `opposite directions from the tappe-t arm 4 ,and are adapted lto engage "the -lower ends lof the respective valve stems may be clearly understood, I have .illustiated fin 'Figui-e921. `portion of 4the heating system in which `it is installed. This system @coiifrprises la -boiler 52 having a steam vmain 53 leadingflirom the-top thereof, and having .fa branch pipe connection 54 with the valve ch'aiii'ber A13 leading to the trap 10. Vater oi-condensation `is `returned Yto the bottom lof the boiler througha ypipe 55and asteani main drip Yline 56 is connected therewith..

An air line return 57 `leads back Uthrough :check valves -58 and 59 -to :the pipe section 55 which is connected to the boiler. This Aair line return 57 is-provided with .an a-ir vent 60, and has a branch-pipe 61 connected with `the valve Lchamber 19. The pipe Vl2, leading lfronithe bottoni ofthe ztrap 10, lis connected to #che .return pipe line between the vcheck yvalves V58 and 59.'

'lVhen vthe receiver 10 nis'empty, land until it has been ynearly lled, ftheloa-t 32 is in .;i'ts;lo'\ver .position with the weight 38 swung `Vis connected.

."englages `the tappet arm v45, the valve '21 is open, :and 'the yvalve 120 :is closed. The .preslsure within the receiver lis-then the same as the pressure within the return pipe line, the

valve 59 is .held closed b y 4the pressure from the boiler, and the water ot'v condensation, as it is iormed, flows into the ieceiver. continues until'th'e level of tihe water within the receiver `has risen lsu'ftifioi-entlfy' 'toilillt the float 32and the weight 38, and to swing the 'latter 'toward the position shown in Figures l and 4. This reverses the position of the tappet arm 45, and opens the valve 20, while the valve 21 closes.. Thus, the' receiver is `,placed in .communication with the steam press-ure 4in .the boiler. This pressure closes vt-he valve 58, and Vsince the receiver is somewhat higher 'than ythe water lever in 'the boiler, -as .indicated by .the .line a, the water vwithin the receiver will be returned through tthe Ipipe 12 .1an d the valve 59 `to the boiler.

l'Vhlen the -water in the receiver has :been

This

lowered ysutliciently, the downward pull, re-

-sulti-ng .from the unsupported .weightoit the ll'loat, willoverbalance the tiltingweight 38, fand swing .the lsame to the right from the .position shown fin Figure .1, again vfpermitting the .valve 20 to close,.and opening the,v

valve 21. Thus atmospheric pressure will be restored in the receiver 10., the valve 59 will closed, and ythe valve 58 will be per -m'itted to -open and again allow water of condensation to flow into thereceiver.

.It will be noted that in each limiting 'po-A lsit-ion or' the .weight 38, its center of gravity .-is :considerably to one side of the spindle 41 which :forms .its axis. Then vthe ilorce exerted/bythe float, either' upwardly or vdownwardlygyas the caseniay be, issu'fticient to move the 'weight 38 past its center oif gravity, vthe weight will then fall abruptly Jto its opposite position, which is determined by theengagement of the gpin 43 orv44 with the .ta-ppet arm 45., and the movement of the vlatter /to A'its.opposite position. The shifting of `the .valves 20 and 21 occurs at the end ot the movement of the tilting weight, and 'the positiveness of their action is insured not .only vby the weight of the .member V38 but alsoby the momentum with, which it strikes -a hammer zblowon the arm 45, 'thus 'increasing the shifting power far beyond 'the mere weight of the member 38.

The;spiing plate `50'holds the tappet arm 45 inthe positionto which it .has been moved,

Athus insuring the positive operation, land simultaneous .shift-ing of the valves toward the conclusion ofi themovement oi'fthe tilt.-

ing weight, instead of operating rduring theY first part of l.this vmovement .as `might otherwiseV occur. .In traps Aas heretofore constructed, .where lno vsuch '.'frictional .resistance is provided, the weight often makes a false start, iandcauses vthe :valves to open or close before the final movement of the weight, or other shifting -mechanism, is completed, thereby stopping, the operation of the trap prematurely.

Thetspecic shapeV ofV the tilting 'Weight and the manner in which it is mounted also tend to simplify its operation, andmake it 'more positive. It is also to be noted that the weight and the float are easily accessible by ren'ioving the dome. The valve cage and the tappet arm may be easily removed by unscrewing the bolts 17.

The arrangement of the valve chambers and valves 20 and 2l makes it Ypossible to remove the valves merely by unscrewing the plugs 26. The valves are duplicates, and, therefore, interchangeable, thus simplifying the construction.

The float also is simple in construction, and the connections at its upper and lower ends insure a smoothiand free operation. The entire mechanism of the trap is simple and positive in its operation and durable in its construction.

While I have shown and described in detail one embodiment of the invention, it is apparentrthat many modifications may be made in the structural details thereof, and in the size, shape and arrangement of the various parts thereof without any material departure from the essential features of the invention. It is my purpose, therefore, to include all such modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

IV hat is claimed is:

l. In a trap of thecharacter described, the combination of a receiver, a weight pivot-ally mounted within the receiver so as to swing baci; and forth above its pivot, a fioat for controlling the movement of the weight, two passageways connected to the upper end of the receiver, a reciprocating plunger valve for each passageway, a depending pivoted tappet adjacent said weight, projections on said weight at opposite sides of said tappet to engage and swing the tappet only7 after said weight has passed beyond dea-d center position, means operable by said tappet .in swinging to open one valve and permit the other to close, and frictional means holding the tappet to sustain either valve in open position until the weight is positively shifted to open the other valve.

2. In a trap of the character described, the combination of a receiver having two passageways connected with its upper end, a valve chamber and valve for each passageway, said valves having stems guided for vertical reciprocation and being adapted to seat by gravity, a pivotally mounted depending tappet arm having lugs projecting underneath the respective stems, either of said lugs being engageable with the corresponding valve stem to raise the valve from its seat while the stem of the other valve is released to permit it to close, a weight pivoted within the receiver, a float connected to the weight for swinging it about its pivot, spaced pins projecting from said weight on opposite sides of the tappet arm and adapted to strike the same and swing it to actuate the respective valves, and spring means frictionally resisting the movement of said tappet arm.

In a trap of the character' described, the combination of a receiver having two passageways connected with its upper end, valves controlling communication through said passageways and normally closed by gravity, a depending pivoted tappet arm having oppositely ,disposed lugs operable to open one valve or the other as the tappet arm is swung to and fro, a weight pivotally mounted beneath the tappet arm to swing back and forth above its pivot, spaced pins projecting from said weight on opposite sides of the tappet arm and adapted to strike the same and swing it to actuate the respective valves, and a float connected to the weight at one side of its pivot for controlling its movement.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature. y

EDGAR o. WILEY. 

